Variable nozzle



1966 T. M. ENGLEHART ETAL 3,279,704

VARIABLE NOZ ZLE Filed May '7, 1964 Fig.3.

IN VENTORS. 771E000RE M. ENGLEHART, BY M/mmv M. DELAO and 772w G.HUMPHREY ,fzwz Wsm WM Affor ngvs United States Patent 3,279,704 VARIABLENOZZLE Theodore M. Englehart, Martin M. Delao, and Troy G.

Humphrey, Indianapolis, Ind., assignors to The Buehler Corporation,Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed May 7, 1964, Ser. No.365,716 3 Claims. (Cl. 239265.43)

The present invention relates to jet propelled watercraft.

One form of jet propelled boat incorporates an engine operativelyconnected to a pump located within a conduit extending through the boatfrom an intake opening at the bottom of the boat to an exhaust at therear of the boat. Water is drawn into the conduit through the intakeopening and is exhausted in a jet stream from the rear of the boatcausing it to move. It has been found that the relative velocity of thejet stream as compared to the velocity of the boat has a controllingeffect on the propulsive effic'iency of the boat.

Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide a jetboat nozzle arrangement which can be operated to propel the boat atrelatively high propulsive efiiciency at various boat speeds.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a jet boatnozzle arrangement which can be controlled to cause the engine of thejet craft to operate at a relatively high miles per gallon of fuel.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a control system fora jet propelled watercraft which can be operated to shut off how ofwater from the jet whereby water pressure can be diverted for firefighting and related purposes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved controlsystem for a jet craft.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

One embodiment of the present invention might include a control systemfor jet propelled watercraft comprising a conduit mounted on the craftand having a converging exit opening away from the craft, means forpumping water through said conduit to exhaust from said exit, a controlelement mounted centrally within said conduit and providing an annularpassage between said control element and said conduit, and means forprojecting said element toward and away from said converging exit tovary the size of the annular passage.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a jet boat embodying the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the rearward portion ofthe jet boat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing an alternative embodimentof the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated ajet boat having a hull 11, the hull being provided with an intakeopening 12 communicating between the bottom of the boat and a pump 13.The pump 13 has a passage therethrough communicating between the intake12 and a passage 14- through a tail pipe 16 secured to the rear or thetransom 17 of the boat. The pump 13 is driven by a conventional marineengine 18 by means of a shaft 20 and functions to pump water from theintake 12 to and out of the rear of the boat. The water is constrictedinto a stream by the converging surface 21 of the tail pipe 16. Theconverging surface 21 3,279,7M Patented Oct. 18, 1966 forms a part of anozzle arrangement 22 which also includes a-control member 23.

The jet, after being formed by the nozzle arrangement 22, passes througha housing 25 secured to the rear of the boat and passes between a pairof deflectors 26 pivotally mounted on the housing 25. Since the housing25 and the deflectors 26 form no part of the present invention, theywill not be further described herein. For further details regarding thesuitable housing 25 and deflectors 26, reference is made to thecopending application of James W. Reynolds et al., Serial No. 23 6,292,now Patent Number 3,241,770 entitled Jet Boat Steering Deflectors andassigned to the same assignee as the present application.

The pump 13 includes a rotor 27 which is rotatably mounted within theconduit 28 and is driven by a shaft 29. For further details regarding asuitable pump for use in the jet boat of the present invention,reference is made to the copending application of Martin M. Delao etal., Serial No. 337,206, entitled Jet Boat Pump and assigned to the sameassignee as the present application. After the water being pumped movesthrough the conduit 28 and is acted upon by the rotor 27, it is providedwith a rotating as well as a longitudinal component. That is, the waterleaving the vanes of the rotor 27 has a tendency not only to moverearwardly but also circle around the axis of the shaft 29.

Fixedly secured to the inside surface of the conduit 28 at spacedintervals therearound is a plurality of stator vanes 30. The stator'vanes 30 each project radially inwardly and fixedly mount at theirinner ends a ring 31. The vanes 30 and ring 31 are positioned betweenthe pump 13 and the converging surface 21 of the member 16. It will beappreciated that the vanes 30 remove the rotating component from thewater as it leaves the pump 13 and cause the water to move directlyrearwardly. Slidably mounted within the ring 31 is a rod 32 having arack 35 on the external surface thereof. The rod 32 has a reducedthreaded end 36 which mounts the control element 23. A pinion 37 isfixedly mounted on the distal end of a shaft 40 which extends throughthe ring 31 and the conduit 28 and is rotatable by suitable means toproject the rod 32 and to cause the control element 23 to move from thesolid line position to the dotted line position and back again.

The control element 23 has a linearly tapering external periphery 39which diverges from a forward diameter 41 equal to the diameter of theexternal surface of the ring 31. The surface 39 tapers to a maximumdiameter 42 larger than the exit end 45 of the converging surface 21.The outer periphery of the member 23 tapers in a frusto-conicalconverging shape from the maximum diameter 42 to a distal end minimumdiameter 46 approximately equal to the diameter 41.

It can be appreciated that when the member 23 is projected into thedotted line position, all how out the exit 45 of the passage 14 isblocked. This position of operation is particularly useful in causingthe water pressure within the passage 14 to be divered for fire fightinguses. Thus, a passage (not shown) with suitable valve means can beprovided leading from the passage 14 to the fire hose.

As is explained in detail in the copending application of Richard L.Cochran, Serial No. 265,136, now Patent Number 3,214,903 entitled JetBoat Pump Nozzle and assigned to the same assignee as the presentapplication, the efiiciency of the jet in propelling the boat is highestwhen the water exiting from the jet is moving at almost the same speedas is the boat. Depending upon the load within the boat, the speed ofthe boat will vary. Thus, a heavier load in the boat will cause the boatto move more slowly and if the speed of the jet was originally adjustedto conform to the unloaded speed of the boat, the speed of the jet willbe too great for the loaded condition of the boat.

The control element 23 provides means for adjusting the speed of the jetto conform to the speed of the boat. If the jet is leaving the boat attoo slow a speed, the control element 23 can be projected by means ofthe pinion 37 and associated structure so that the annular passage 50surrounding the member 23 and within the surface 21 is made smaller orthinner whereby the speed of the water moving therethrough is increased.Of course, when the boat is more heavily loaded, control element 23 canbe adjusted forwardly.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. Theembodiment of FIG. 3 involves a control element 23' which is operated inthe same manner and is identical to the control element 23 of FIG. 2 andits associated structure. The device of FIG. 3 is different than thedevice of FIG. 2 in that the device of FIG. 3 incorporates an annularflexible member 100 of rubber or the like which is adhered at 101 and102 to the tail pipe member 105. The tail pipe member 105 has aninternal hollow portion 106 within which fluid pressure can be varied toadjust the position of the flexible member 160 from the solid lineposition to the dotted line position, thus adjusting the thickness ofthe annular flow of water between the member 23 and the flexible member100.

The above mentioned Patent Number 3,214,903 discloses an arrangementsimilar to the flexible member 100. FIG. 3 of the present application isintended, however, to illustrate the use of the projectable controlelement 23 or 23' in combination with an arrangement such as thatdisclosed in the above mentioned Richard L. Cochran application.

It will be appreciated from the above description that the presentinvention provides a jet boat nozzle arrangement which can be operatedto propel the boat at relatively high propulsive efiiciency. It willalso be evident that the present invention provides a control systemwhich can be operated to shut off flow of water from the jet wherebywater pressure can be diverted for fire fighting and the like.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. A control system for jet-propelled watercraft comprising a conduitmounted on the craft and extending and opening rearwardly thereof, saidconduit having an interior hollow therethrough which is circular incross section and converges to the rearward opening thereof, a flexibleannular element secured to said conduit within the rearward openingthereof, means for inflating said flexible annular element for reducingthe size of said rearward opening, a pump in said conduit, a pluralityof stator vanes fixed to the conduit and extending inwardly in saidpassage between said pump and said opening, a ring fixed to the innerends of said vanes and positioned coaxially of said passage, a rodhaving a rack on the side thereof and slidably received in said ring, acontrol element mounted on the end of said rod between said ring andopening, said control element engaging said ring and having an outerperiphery which tapers from the outer periphery of said ring to amaximum diameter and converges from said maximum diameter in afrusto-conical shape, said maximum diameter being larger than saidopening, a pinion meshing with said rack, and means for rotating saidpinion to project said control element toward said opening to vary thesize of the passage between said conduit and the control element from arelatively large annular shape through intermediate sized annular shapesto a complete closure,

2. A control system for jet-propelled watercraft comprising a conduitmounted on the craft and extending and opening rearwardly thereof, saidconduit having an interior hollow therethrough which is circular incross section and converges to the rearward opening thereof, a flexibleannular element secured to said conduit within the rearward openingthereof, means for inflating said flexible annular element for reducingthe size of said rearward opening, a pump in said conduit, a pluralityof stator vanes fixed to the conduit and extending inwardly in saidpassage between said pump and said opening, a ring fixed to the innerends of said vanes and positioned coaxially of said passage, a controlelement slidably mounted in said ring, said control element engagingsaid ring and having an outer periphery which tapers from the outerperiphery of said ring to a maximum diameter and converges from saidmaximum diameter in a frusto-conical shape, said maximum diameter beinglarger than said opening, and means for projecting said control elementtoward said opening to vary the size of the passage between said conduitand the control element from a relatively large annular shape throughintermediate sized annular shapes to a complete closure.

3. A control system for jet-propelled watercraft comprising a conduitmounted on the craft and extending and opening rearwardly thereof, saidconduit having an interior hollow therethrough which is circular incross section, a tail pipe member secured to the rearward end of saidconduit, said tail pipe member having an interior hollow therethroughwhich is circular in cross section and has a first forward portionconverging from the diameter of said interior hollow of said conduit, asecond portion of constant diameter adjacent to and rearward of saidfirst portion, a third portion of yet greater diameter adjacent to andrearward of said second portion and a fourth portion forming the rearwall of said tail pipe having an opening therein of lesser diameter thansaid first, second and third portion, a flexible annular element havingits forward edge secured to said first portion of said interior hollowof said tail pipe and having its rearward edge secured to said openingof said fourth portion of said tail pipe thereby spanning said secondand third portions of said tail pipe and forming a continuous convergingsurface from said first portion of said tail pipe to said opening insaid fourth portion of said tail pipe, means in communication with saidsecond and third portion of said tail pipe for inflating said flexibleannular element for further reducing the effective diameter of saidconverging surface, a pump in said conduit, a plurality of stator vanesfixed to the conduit and extending inwardly in said passage between saidpump and said opening, a ring fixed to the inner ends of said vanes andpositioned coaxially of said passage, a rod having a rack on the sidethereof and slidably received in said ring, a control element mounted onthe end of said rod between said ring and opening, said control elementengaging said ring and having an outer periphery which tapers from theouter periphery of said ring to a maximum diameter and converges fromsaid maximum diameter in a frusto-conical shape, said maximum diameterbeing larger than said opening in said fourth portion of said tail pipe,a pinion meshing with said rack, and means for rotating said pinion toproject said control element toward said converging surface to vary thesize of the passage between said converging surface and the controlelement from a relatively large annular shape through intermediate sizedannular shapes to a complete closure.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner2,948,111 8/ 1960 Nelson 60-355 Cochran 1,187,588 7/1916 White. FOREIGNPATENTS 2,408,099 9/ 1946 Sherman 6035.6 5 23,917 12/ 1918 Denmark.2,409,433 10/1946 Hunter 138-45 126,425 5/ 1919 Great Britain. 2,570,62910/1951 Anxionnaz et a1 6035.6 2 590 215 3 195 sausa X MARK NEWMAN,Exammer- 2,737,019 3/1956 Billman. AL SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

2. A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR JET-PROPELLED WATERCRAFT COMPRISING A CONDUITMOUNTED ON THE CRAFT AND EXTENDING AND OPENING REARWARDLY THEREOF, SAIDCONDUIT HAVING AN INTERIOR HOLLOW THERETHROUGH WHICH IS CIRCULAR INCROSS SECTION AND CONVERGES TO THE REARWARD OPENING THEREOF, A FLEXIBLEANNULAR ELEMENT SECURED TO SAID CONDUIT WITHIN THE REARWARD OPENINGTHEREOF, MEANS FOR INFLATING SAID FLEXIBLE ANNULAR ELEMENT FOR REDUCINGTHE SIZE OF SAID REARWARD OPENING, A PUMP IN SAID CONDUIT, A PLURALITYOF STATOR VANES FIXED TO THE CONDUIT AND EXTENDING INWARDLY IN SAIDPASSAGE BETWEEN SAID PUMP AND SAID OPENING, A RING FIXED TO THE INNERENDS OF SAID VANES AND POSITIONED COAXIALLY OF SAID PASSAGE, A CONTROLELEMENT SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID RING, SAID CONTROL ELEMENT ENGAGINGSAID RING AND HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERY WHICH TAPERS FROM THE OUTERPERIPHERY OF SAID RING TO A MAXIMUM DIAMETER AND CONVERGES FROM SAIDMAXIMUM DIAMETER IN A FRUSTO-CONICAL SHAPE, SAID MAXIMUM DIAMETER BEINGLARGER THAN SAID OPENING, AND MEANS FOR PROJECTING SAID CONTROL ELEMENTTOWARD SAID OPENING TO VARY THE SIZE OF THE PASSAGE BETWEEN SAID CONDUITAND THE CONTROL ELEMENT FROM A RELATIVELY LARGE ANNULAR SHAPE THROUGHINTERMEDIATE SIZED ANNULAR SHAPES TO A COMPLETE CLOSURE.